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April 7, 2015

Canine Flu in Chicago

Spring is in swing here in Chicago. The rain melted all the snow and we’re starting to get beautiful and bright days again Unfortunately, Canine Influenza (CIV) is here too. Chicago is currently experiencing endemic levels of CIV. Of course I got the warning email from my
Spring is in swing here in Chicago.Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, chicago, marking our territory

The rain melted all the snow and we’re starting to get beautiful and bright days again

Unfortunately, Canine Influenza (CIV) is here too. Chicago is currently experiencing endemic levels of CIV. Of course I got the warning email from my vet right after a trip to the dog beach.

Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, chicago, marking our territory

It was a fun trip, but it will be our last trip for at least a week

Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, chicago, marking our territory

Luckily, neither Eko or Penny show any symptoms but per the recommendation of our vet we’ll be keeping clear of communal dog activities

Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, chicago, marking our territory

The good news is that with proper care, most pups with CIV can get over the illness and return to perfect health.

The better news is that there is a two-stage CIV vaccination available. There are no guarantees, but the vaccine is highly effective. Eko and Penny are both active and social pups so there was no question in my mind that I’d get it for them. In fact, we’re off to get the first booster right now.

Rhodesian Ridgeback, puppy, chicago, marking our territory

It’s good for him, but that doesn’t mean Eko has to like it

The “ENDEMIC” and “OUTBREAK” headlines made my heart skip a beat, but thanks to a thoughtful and informative email from my vet I’m feeling a lot better about the situation. I’ll feel even more at ease once the pups are vaccinated.

Hopefully with a concerted effort from people with pups and with the support of our vets we can help the Windy City shake this thing. This is my first time experiencing anything like this, so if you have any familiarity with CIV I’d appreciate any perspective you could offer. Thanks!

Comments for Canine Flu in Chicago

  1. fredrieka says:

    we can catch H1N1 as well sad take care of those paw babies

  2. you were in my thoughts immediately as I read abot this CIV at Sugars blog. I cross my paws and I hope so much that this problem is solved soon…

  3. Thanks for the info, Will. I didn’t know the symptoms but now I do 😀

  4. Emmadog says:

    We’ve heard a lot about it, even a nose work group posted about it as people are scared to let their dogs compete in the Chicago area. Wonder where it is coming from? You can keep it there, no need to send it our way. Hope it simply goes away soon.

  5. Victoria says:

    Yep we had to vaccinate for that in WV last month – shots are not fun but flu could be much worse – my vet would close down if there was one instance of it so they insist on vaccinating all of their clients….better safe than sorry!

  6. raisingdaisy says:

    Will, I thought of you all and your beach visits as soon as I heard reports of canine flu hitting such high levels in Chicago. I knew you’d be on top of it! I’m so glad neither Penny nor Eko is showing signs of it, but it’s a good idea to get them vaccinated and keep them away from the beach for a while. Now I guess you’ll be back to indoor games to tire them out – good thing you got all those great toys when Penny was confined to quarters!

  7. meANXIETYme says:

    Oh boy, hadn’t heard about the outbreak in your area! Get those boosters for Eko and Penny, and keep them healthy!

  8. Nikitaland says:

    We knew you would be on top of things Will! Keeping your pups safe is no. 1 priority! Love that water photo and expressions too!

  9. I’ve been under the weather and our Saint Bernard wanted to smell my mouth, and I said, “No, I don’t want you to get sick.” 🙂

  10. Kismet says:

    I’m still worried about the bird flu.

  11. Stay safe Eko and Penny! We have heard through some of our other doggie friends about just how scary things are for Pet Parents in Chicago right now- our hearts go out to all of you- so sad to ruin all the dog park fun!

  12. Praying neither of your babies comes down with it. To be honest, my vet told me long ago to never frequent dog parks (dog beaches didn’t come up, because in Michigan there are none around us)….I never, ever take Dakota to dog parks. Our vet is opposed to them because he says that the vast majority of dogs that frequent the dog parks are NOT vaccinated (contrary to what their owners would say)……..so he strongly advised us to avoid them. I know that water holds bacteria…..not sure about sand. I would think if they were not in the water you should be ok.

  13. coastingnz says:

    oh my gosh that is definitely heart stopping but knowing how healthy and happy Eko and Penny are I’m sure they’re safe from it. It is a matter of course here in NZ regarding vaccination. Each year with the boys annual checkup they also get their “jabs” including one against dog flu. If they ever had to be put in the communal kennels it is a requirement for the dogs to be vaccinated. Big snuggles to Eko and Penny – not fair with the weather finally turning to suddenly be stuck inside again, only for a short time guys though – you’ll be kicking up your heels again in no time. Stay safe.

  14. Fozziemum says:

    That sounds awful Will..we have had terrible outbreaks of Parvo in our country these past few months…the boys are vac’d and times like this I am glad they wander here on our property….always pays to be aware and get our doggies vacc’d 🙂

  15. […] been over 1,000 reported cases of canine influenza in Chicago in the last few weeks. Our friends Will, Eko and Penny recently blogged about this, and when we received this press release from the American Veterinary Medical Association, we were […]

  16. Been thinking about you guys – glad you’ve been checked. That pic of Eko at the vet is just like Jack. He stands with his nose to the door until he gets out.

  17. Cupcake says:

    We saw that Chicago Doggie Flu on the news. Yikes! Thank goodness for the shots. Sorry, kids. Shots happen….

    Love and licks,
    Cupcake

  18. How in the world do you keep your camera dry and sand free is beyond me. And I can’t even begin to figure out how you manage to capture such great action shots. As always…pawsome job!

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